Tourist disappears after swimming off Patong Beach

A 27 year old Ukrainian tourist disappeared after swimming off Patong Beach last evening (December 10).

A team of Patong lifeguards along with the Kulsoldham Phuket Foundation volunteers combed the beach area following a report that a tourist had gone missing at about 6.30pm (sunset last night was at 6.09pm). A boat driver, who is a witness, says that he saw the tourist swimming but the man was swimming away from the boat which was about 300-400 metres offshore, with a water depth of 7-8 metres.

A diving team could search for him for only 15 minutes because of poor visibility following the sunset and the danger of strong waves.

Patong lifeguards are using jet-skis to search for the missing man today.